A neat house is not necessarily efficient and organized so don’t confuse neatness with organization. Organization is about being able to easily retrieve stored items of any size and importance anytime you need them.
  
Tips to getting your home in order:    

• Re-configure existing space to accommodate individual needs.     
• Separate and purge.
• Organize frequently used items.
• Store seldom used items

Tips to separate trash from treasure:
When purging, separate into Keep, Donate, Sell and Throw-out categories. Handle items only once and make a decision.

• Household “Stuff” - Be choosy; don’t keep furniture & accessories just because you’ve had them forever. If it’s broken, stained, damaged or you hate it, donate it.
• Clothing - If you haven’t worn in a year, doesn’t flatter your figure, is the wrong color, torn, stained, or you dislike—donate it.
• Gifts - Keep only items that you love or fit with your style.
• Collectables, keepsakes and mementos - Be ruthless and keep just a few very special items. Display them and enjoy them.
• Toys - Purge frequently. Teach your children to donate. Use the “One in, one out rule.”

• Magazines, books, videos & tapes - If magazines pile up unread, consider canceling the subscription for a year. Purge textbooks & paperbacks. Keep your most favorite videos & tapes, donate the rest.

Finally, items that you bought and never used but are still holding on to in case you might ever need them, sell or donate.
 
Be creative with purged items. Donate them to charities like Goodwill or Salvation Army, hospitals, local churches, hospice, women, homeless or pet shelters, and recycling centers to name a few. And don’t forget family & friends that have previously admired an item.

Tips to organize the treasures you will keep:

Frequently Used Items like clothing, linens, useful tools, kitchen utensils, toys, work-related items, household finance ledgers & checkbook, sporting equipment you use routinely.

• Keep close by in drawers & shelves within arms reach, at eye level, countertops, hooks on doors, center of cabinet shelves & closet poles.

Occasionally Used Items like seasonal sports & lawn equipment, holiday china & party decorations, seasonal clothing, & luggage.

• Store in drawers or shelves above eye level or at floor level. (except in a child’s room)
• Store in sealed boxes, unused trunks or suitcases, blind side of cabinet shelves, top closet shelves or rods, and loft in garage, attic or storage facility.

Use these ideas to keep your home more organized, clutter-free, and efficient where you will be able to maximize your time, space and enjoy that free time. Remember to continue to purge periodically to avoid accumulation of unwanted “stuff”. Happy organizing!